Uniform cap



H. LEV

UNIFORM CAP Dec. 18, 1951 Filed Feb. 7, 1950 INVENTOR. an zei/ BY Patented Dec. 18, 1951 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE 7 ,UNIFORM CAP I Harry LevJChicago, Ill. Application February 7, 1950, Serial No. 142,897

C ai 7 l This invention relates generally to,..uniform caps of the type which is characterized by a flexible cover surmounting a, frame, and in particular to the provision of a distending means which is fitted within the cover to maintain the cover yieldably taut. n

Uniform caps 'of this general kind are worn by the military and by civilians who are engaged in various occupations. They are commonly providedv with flexible covers surmounting the endless bands that provide frames for the caps. It is highly desirable for appearance sake that these flexible covers be sustained upwardly and outwardly of the frame, particularly in the frontal area. At the same time it is important that the covers be free to yield inwardly or downwardly in response to pressure at any point. The provision of means for so sustaining the cover is a primary feature of, this invention. For this purpose I utilize a large number-of interconnected supports in the nature of resilient struts which may be interwoven into a light fabric-like structure which is secured within the cap cover to provide a sustaining support therefor upwardly of the cap frame. These resilient supports which may be in the form of small wires or threads are collectively ample to sustain the cap cover upwardly and also circularly in a smooth and distended condition, while permitting ready yielding of the cap cover at any point where pressure may be encountered. y

The improvements now to be described in detail are illustrated, in connection with a military officers cap, in the accompanying drawing wherein:

, Figure 1 is a perspective'view thereof, looking toward the front;

Fig. 2 which is a similar view, somewhat en-. larged, shows the front portion of the cap cover broken away to exhibit the resilient distending means therefor in operative position; I v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentarydetail "in section, taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the distender as it appears when laid out in a flat plane;

Fig. 5 is a detail in vertical section taken through the cap frame and associated parts at a point about opposite one of the side buttons; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the distender fabric elsewhere shown in Fig. 4.

The illustrated cap is conventional in that it comprises a generally circular endless frame F made desirably of fiber or the like. This frame which may be fabric covered supports against its inner face at the front an upstandingstay S. which .extends'substantially to the tip of the flexible .capcover C to provide a fixed support therefor, The cap is of that type which com- 2 prises a tip t at the juncture of the circumferential cover portion with the top l3 which is substantially round and fiat. A cushion pad P which is fitted around the inside of the frame maintains spaced therefrom a sweat band B. Afiixed to the lower portion of the frame at its front is the customary visor V.

The feature which constitutes the present vention is the provision of a distender D which extends arcuately in the front region of the cap between the frame and the tip t of the cover. As shown, this distender is connected along its top edge, as by stitching 8, to a supporting band 9 of lightweight material such as rayon twill. This distender is turned along its lower edge where its supporting band is attached as by stitching Ill to the frame F near its top. Along its top edge the supporting band is sewed at H, or otherwise secured, to the circumferential cover portion I4 along a line adjacent its tip t. The supporting band is desirably endless so as to extend around within the cap cover circumferentially thereof. The connection I l between the band 9 and cover tip is desirably continuous around the cover.

The material which I find is admirably suited for the distender is known as hair cloth. It comprises a filling f of horses hair with interwoven warp threads w (see Fig. 6), the filling being disposed generally vertically so as to be resilient only in a direction between the cover tip and the top of the frame F and not circumferentially of the cap. In such a fabric the filling threads tend to remain straight and resist bending. They are susceptible of yielding, however, in response to a sufficient pressure, but will readily return to their straight condition when permitted to do so.

A distender of this kind is extended upwardly from the frame to the tip of the cap cover for a minimum arcuate distance which is substantially commensurate with the front portion of the cap between the two side buttons I2 to which the usual strap I5 is connected. The result is a sustaining support for the cap cover, extending through at least the entire frontal area of the cap where appearance counts most. The arcuate length of the distender is largely a matter of choice. It may be short, as shown, so as to ex-- tend only in the frontal area of the cap; or itmay be lengthened considerably to extend to or around the rearwardarea of the cap. Throughout its length, whatever it may be, the resilient filling threads 7 are disposed in a generally vertical direction so as to provide a yieldable sustaining support, both upwardly and outwardly, for the cap cover adjacent its tip t. 1

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 an insignia I may be applied to the cap at its front. As is usual,

the insignia is provided with arearward extendframe to the tip of the cover and throughout the arcuate length of the fabric piece to provide for the cover a yieldable sustaining force substantially uniform at all points. i

3. A uniform cap having an endless frame, a flexible cover'surmounting the frame and including a flat top having a tip positioned upwardly and outwardly with respect to the frame, said cover further including a circumferential cover portion having its upper edge secured to the periphery of the flat top, a flexible band surmounting Y the frame and connected to the cover at the means for distending it circularly, a grommet G" for this purpose being commonly employed. In the construction shown, the cap cover is not removable, but whether or not it be so made is relatively unimportant to this invention.

1 In use, the distender D is supported operatively by the band B which carries it. This band is desirably connected continuously along its upper edge with the cap cover, thereby resisting any endwise pull which might put it out of shape. Along its lower edge the band support also is secured--to the circular frame of the cap, and because of these connections along opposite edges it serves to limit the distension to which the cap cover may be upwardly and outwardly extended, independently of the cap cover itself. This is of advantage because it imposes a certain resistance to twisting or torsional movement of the cap cover, shouldv it be subjected to any force tending, to produce such a motion. 7

The distender herein shown is in the form of a fabric which provides a simple and convenient structure for holding a large number of resilient other because of their being interwoven into the a fabric structure of which they form a part. This la-tera1 reinforcement accordingly adds strength to the strut-like supporting threads so that they tend to push upwardly and outwardly the tip portionof the cap coverwhereby to hold itxin distendedand smooth condition.

l. A uniform cap having an endless frame, a flexible cover surmounting the frame and secured thereto and provided with a flat top having a tip positioned upwardly and outwardly with respect to th frame, and an arcuately distencling means extending across the frontal area of the cap and interconnecting the frame and tip of the cover for yieldable support of the latter, said means comprising a woven fabric having resilient filling threads extended upwardly from the top" of the frame to the tip of the cover and throughout the arcuate length of the distending means and providing for the cover a yieldable sustaining force substantially uniform at all. points.

2.- A uniform cap having an endless frame, a flexible cover surmounting the frame and secured thereto and provided with a flat top having a tip positioned upwardly and outwardly with respect to the frame, and distending means interconnecting the. top of the frame and tip of the cover and following the curve thereof throughout the frontal area of the cap for,

yieldable support of the cover, said means comprising a piece of hair cloth fabric of arcuate form with the resilient hair threads forming the filling and all of the resilient hairs ofwthe' fabric extended. upwardly from the top of. the

upper edge of the circumferential cover portion, a distending fabric extending across the frontal area of the circumferential cover portion and having its upper edge connected to the flexible band adjacent the upper edge thereof, andmeans for interconnecting the cap frame and. the lower edges of the flexible band, distending fabric and circumferential cover portion to provide for the cover a yieldable sustaining force substantially uniform at all points.

4. A uniform cap having an endless frame, a flexible cover surmounting the frame and secured thereto and provided with a flat top having a tip positioned upwardly and outwardly with respect to the frame, a flexible band surmounting the frame and connected to the top of the latter and to the cover at its tip, a distending fabric disposed in close relation to said flexible band across the frontal portion thereof, and means for interconnecting the flexible band and distending fabric at points adjacent the cover tip andthe capframe and-holding the distending fabric against lateral displacement whereby to provide for the cover a uniform yieldable sustaining force.

5. A uniform cap having an endless frame, a flexible coversurmounting the frame and provided with a'fiat top having a tip positioned upwardly'a'nd outwardly with respect to the frame and further provided with a circumferential cover portion having its upper edge secured to the periphery of the flat top, a flexible band surmounting the frame and connected to thed-i stending fabric and circumferential cover pertionwith: theframe and holding the distending fabric from lateral displacement whereby to pro vide for the cover a substantially uniform yieldable sustaining force; v i

' HARRY LEV? REFERENCES CITED l f l he" following references are of record inthe.

file ofthis patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Number I Date 19 7,478 NDV. 27, 'LQVLQ Apr.- 11, 1 939 2,154,210 V omen REFERENCES American Wool Handbook 100., copyright 1938,

page .760 a Dan Riviers. Dictionary of Textile rerm erd edition, copyright 1944,1945, page til, 

